The Scrapperbook: Week Eight

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Slowly but surely, you're beginning to see the roster turn over with fresh faces being assigned to the team. With the draft signing deadline less than a week away, the turn over has only just begun.

Next week, two Scrappers will represent the team in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. The game will take place in Stanten Island, New York, on August 17, at 7 pm EST. Dan DeGeorge and Alex Kaminsky were voted on to the team. Owen Dew was also slated to represent the Scrappers, however he will be unable to attend due to his recent promotion to Lake County.

The offense seemed to really show signs of life this week, some of which was off their ability to capitalize off their opponent's mistakes. This week, they scored 32 runs, 27 of which were earned, while slamming 64 hits along the way. Many bats, such as Carlos Moncrief and Giovanny Urshela, who started off cold, have really come on as of late. New comers Jesus Aguilar and Nick Bartolone also provided some spark to what has been a stone cold offense this season. However, despite their recent spark, this team is still in the basement in almost every offensive category you can possibly think of. They still rank last in the league in batting average (.235), third to last in hits (418), second to last in runs (202), last in doubles (78), seventh to last in home runs (25), last in RBI (171), third in strike outs (369), second to last in stolen bases (39), second to last in total bases (593), second to last in OBP (.309), second to last in SLG (.333), and second tolast in OPS (.643). This week really raised them from dead last in almost every category, though. With the recent offensive surge, plus more oncoming draft picks likely to be assigned to this team, they may finally figure it out.

Week 8 Offensive Player of the Week: Giovanny Urshela

This has been the toughest week of the season to choose this award for because three players all made their own case this week. Let's start with Carlos Moncrief, who arguably, came the closest to tying for this award. He went 11-26 (.423) this week, hitting for a double, triple, and a home run, while driving in one and scoring seven times. He also walked five times and struck out during six at-bats. Next was Chase Burnette, who has been this team's offensive spark for much of the season. In week eight, he went 9-28 (.321), hitting three doubles and a home run, while driving in five. Burnette walked three times and struck out for another five. Finally, this week's offensive player of the week, Giovanny Urshela, went 9-23 (.391), hitting three doubles and a home run, while driving in eight runs. He walked twice and also struck out twice.

Week 8 Pitching:

It was the tale of two sides of the pitching staff this week; they looked great and looked awful. The fact of the matter is that it's still not doing enough, though, to keep the team in games. In four games, they gave up a total of 24 of their 28 earned runs and 38 of their 48 hits. In the other three games, they only gave up a mere 4 earned runs and 10 hits. On August 11, the pitching staff pitched a real gem, combining to give up only one hit and no earned runs. Alex Kaminsky started the game, going 5 innings, allowing 1 hit and walking 1, while striking out 4. Kyle C. Smith pitched an inning, allowing 2 walks and striking out 2. John Goryl pitching an inning, Dale Dickerson pitched .2 of an inning, allowing three walks and striking out one. James Reichenbach came on for the save going an inning and a third, striking out one. The team ERA dropped to 4.17, which ranks fifth highest in the league. They have also allowed the fourth most hits in the league (467), fourth most runs (260), fourth most earned runs (220), second most home runs allowed (35), and fourth least in strike outs (378).

Week 8 Pitcher of the Week: Alex Kaminsky

Mr. Reliable for this staff all season has been Alex Kaminsky. In one start this week, he went five innings, allowing a single hit, a walk, and striking out four. Kaminsky's ERA ranks sixth lowest in the league (1.95), third in wins (5), ninth in innings pitched (55.1), ninth in strike outs (45), and eighth in WHIP (1.03).